Becky Howes, Account Manager of mio

Who are you and what does it say on your business card?            

Becky Howes, mio Account Manager

What is mio and what does it do?

mio is a data driven sales progression and communication tool for Estate Agents, which helps them to reduce fall through and speed up the time to reach exchange; supporting collaboration and improved transparency across the chain. It also includes a clever little app for homemovers so they can keep an eye on progress (instead of making another chasing call!) and receive regular automated updates, as well as message securely with their agent.

What services do you offer and in what ways do you work with estate and letting agents?

Ok… So first of all, mio is for sales – not lettings. It has a whole range of features that revolutionise day-to-day sales progression – including a clear view of each chain, data feeds from conveyancers, financial services and surveyors, centralised customer communications, and more.

I’m quite proud to say that mio is making a big difference in the market, as it has already helped to reduce average fall-through rates to 21% compared to the UK average of 33%, whilst speeding up transactions to exchange from 126 days down to 85 days*.

*Measured from September 2017 to April 2019 across the Cardiff mio community of agents

What makes your product different and how does it benefit agents?

mio is part of the tmgroup family with over 20 years’ experience in helping to streamline the property transaction using technology and data, and all delivered with intuitive design.

As saving time for property professionals is a big part of what we do, mio helps Estate Agents work more efficiently. It reduces the amount of sales chasing phone calls they need to make each day, whilst alerting them to when particular transactions “need attention”. Early adopters absolutely love it!

Our customers have also told us that the task notifications and milestone updates in particular have helped their new recruits get to grips with the sales progression process much faster – reducing their training time.

What is your greatest achievement in your current role and what made it so special?

Making the decision to join the mio team (and leaving a job in estate agency that I loved) to take a leap of faith into the world of property technology. It was special because it felt like the most exciting midlife crisis!

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

It’s definitely hearing a stressed Sales Progressor say that mio has improved their world and given them time back, so they can take care of the important things like holding a chain together, or giving extra time and care to a customer who needs it.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing estate and letting agents at the moment?

I feel the next “PPI” in Estate Agency could be the ticking time bomb of declaration of referral fees. Katrine Sporle – on a recent TPO (The Property Ombudsman) update – stated they must be transparent, proportionate, stated in advance of each referral service, within TOB, etc, etc…

We need to get to a place within our industry where we can hand on heart state this to be the case, but we are certainly not there yet. Otherwise, the Government will make it another regulation, and frankly, we have enough. We are still getting over the tenant fee ban!

What is your property prediction for the remainder of 2019?

That there will be more agents exiting the profession. The ones that stay and make a success of it will be those with extended opening hours, who make it easy for the customer to do business with them (in the manner of their choosing) and that embrace technology – not at the expense of their people, but to enhance their people.

Country house or city apartment?

Country house with a great big slobbering Boxer dog.

Trendy roof terrace or traditional English garden?

English Garden – the cocktail – Gin, Elderflower and cucumber – delicious!

Would you rather be a free-moving tenant or settled owner occupier?

Settled – it’s an age thing!

What is your favourite room in your home?

My kitchen – it’s my social hub. We hardly use the lounge!

Homes under the Hammer or Location, Location, Location?

Neither – it’s a busman’s holiday!

Want to find out more about mio? Contact us today and try mio FREE for 6 months!